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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
09-18-2014, 03:16 PM
I'm on the market for a new computer. I want to get a MacBook, but not sure which version would be the best investment.
Not sure if a 4GB model would be plenty enough for me, or if I should go to a higher-end model??
Aside from the usual internet surfing, word/statistics documentation, emailing, etc.; my 3 biggest uses will be:
1) I'm sort of an amature photographer, I have a lot of photo/jpeg/bitmap pictures that take up a lot of space on my current machine.
2) I'm into music/guitar/recording/turntable/vinyl/CDs, audio stuff. I've always gone to studios to record anyways, so this doesn't have to be anything too super-pro, but I would like to have at least some decent audio software to experiment with my own vocal/guitar recordings, create my own mixes.
3) I'm strongly considering getting into those online/rosetta/pimsleur language software packages to sharpen my Spanish and maybe pick up some Portuguese and Chinese.
With these hobbies in mind, would a base-line 4GB MacBook be a solid enough platform or should I spend a couple hundred more and go for the more powerful versions??
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
09-18-2014, 04:24 PM
I've liked my macbook, but when I was setting up my parents' new mac a few months ago I noticed their new OS makes you sign up for their app store just to get software updates, which is kind of gay.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
09-18-2014, 04:39 PM
4GB should be fine unless you're doing a lot of video editing. Just get the biggest Hard Drive you can unless you go with a solid state drive (SSD).
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
09-18-2014, 04:51 PM
Get the most powerful version you can afford if you intend to hold on to it for a while. Technology gets outdated quickly, and software req's only get higher with time.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
09-18-2014, 05:10 PM
There are several threads on this, but I'd still recommend getting a MacBook Air with RAM upgraded to 8 gb (it's more beneficial than upgrading the processor).
It'll do all you want, is pretty bullet-proof (I've dropped mine several times), and is the best travel laptop you can get.
And, somehow, macmall.com is cheaper than Apple Store.
"...it's the quiet cool...it's for someone who's been through the struggle and come out on the other side smelling like money and pussy."
"put her in the taxi, put her number in the trash can"
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
10-01-2014, 02:18 PM
I'm set on a 13/8GB/256 MBP retina. I hear MacMall is offering free shipping/no tax. Amazon also has some deals. Any drawbacks to ordering from one of these vendors rather than good direct through Apple? Do they offer warranties? Are warranties essential with these Apple products?
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
10-01-2014, 03:06 PM
Wait until their Macbook/Hardware press conference on October 21st. Usually, they'll start chopping prices on older models right after if they introduce new things, probably and usually $100. Also, on Black Friday is the only time of the year that everything on Apple.com goes on sale. Places like Best Buy will give you a $100 gift card if you buy that day (you can do it online too).
Get Apple Care, its pretty worth it in my opinion. If you buy with an Amex then you get an extra year tacked on your warranty too I believe.
As for vendors, there's nothing wrong with ordering through them as well and as long as they are authorized then you should be good. You can get AppleCare on those products as well.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
11-16-2016, 02:14 PM
Curious what people's thoughts are on the new Macbook Pro, if its worth the extra cash for the Touch Bar.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
11-16-2016, 03:53 PM
I just bought a 2011 mbpro with i7, 16gb ram, ssd.
It runs as good as my friends mbp retina and it cost me $500 on ebay.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
11-17-2016, 11:23 AM
I'm thinking of getting a new laptop soon for the purposes of running linux on it. Or maybe Hackintosh? Black Friday sales coming up..
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
11-17-2016, 11:52 AM
I've been anti-Mac since I was in middle school. Now I have a career in IT specializing in helpdesk administration and desktop support. I'm still anti-Mac.
It has a long and healthy history of being the most overpriced and over-hyped software/hardware monolith ever. The only thing that makes Apple a great company is their marketing. They are excellent at branding and targeting demographics. Somehow Apple has convince huge swaths of the population that their computers are somehow better than others for doing anything art related, and despite having the highest market value of any company on the planet, simultaneously convinced these same swaths of the population that they are somehow less of a "corporate evil" than Microsoft.
The thing I will say about Macs is that they do indeed work as a computer, and do work well and reliably.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
11-17-2016, 02:53 PM
Somehow, the marketing people at Apple were able to convince the masses that Mac is good for graphic design, and specialized tasks. What they failed to say is that Photoshop (Windows) and GIMP (Linux) do the job equally well, provided that you have a good quality calibrated monitor. Gotta give credit to Mac, they have a stable OS, but still not worth the hype.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
11-18-2016, 06:52 PM
People who use Macs for graphic design use primarily Adobe software which is also on Windows. People that use Macs for music recording primarily use Avid Protools which is also on Windows.
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On the Market for a new computer: MacBook versions?
11-19-2016, 09:11 PM
Early Windows machines were notorious for hardware problems, especially in RAM, which caused crashes almost always misattributed to the operating system. The custom PC building hobby was largely born of the OEMs' low quality manufacturing. That has changed dramatically, for the better, over the past 10 years, but the reputation persists.
Windows 7 will run stable for months at a time. Windows 10 is also very stable. It is not a coincidence either that Microsoft is now producing their own hardware with industry-leading quality. Over 20+ years working with computers, I have never seen the "gets slower over time" thing on a system properly equipped for the user's needs. If you're getting malware, reconsider the websites you're visiting on a computer used for professional purposes.
Apple still wins on vertical integration, but OS X is not what it used to be. I still recommend used enterprise-grade laptops with Windows 7 for people on a budget. If you have to get an Apple machine, I highly recommend the used market as others have mentioned in this thread. New Macbooks are 100% not upgradeable. With solid state disks being ubiquitous, there is little practical value in cutting-edge hardware anyway.
Unless: You have heavy computational needs like HD video editing. In that case a PC workstation is your only option because Apple does not serve that market any more and hasn't for at least 3 years.
I'm not defending Microsoft here. They have created a lot of their problems. Apple has been disappointing lately though and the value just isn't there, in my opinion.